Sunday 6th January 2013

Wood next to Newbridge playingfield bordering Staffs & Worcs Canal.
Calm, dull, warm, 10.00 to 10.30.

Very quiet, and as usual this winter, few feeding flocks, the number of birds in general down on recent years, perhaps due to a poor breeding season for resident species.  Crow, Magpie and Woodpigeon were evident in and over the wood, with one or two Moorhen and a pair of Mallard on the canal.  Blackbird, Robin, Wren and Dunnock were heard, but it was only when I reached the northern end of the wood after a brief cross-canal conversation with Kevin Clements (he was on another Footit walk, cf. December 4th posting) that things began to liven up.  A Nuthatch called, and flew from the Double Pennant boatyard moorings to join a male Great Spotted Woodpecker in trees by the main path through the wood.  Long-tailed Tit calls marked the arrival of a small flock of feeding birds moving through the branches, made up of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and a single Treecreeper, seen briefly.  At least one Goldcrest flicked and hovered against the light at the very tops of the trees.
A Mistle Thrush pair were already on their breeding station, and a Coal Tit gave territorial calls nearer to the canal as I walked back, probably responding to the warmer weather conditions.  The tips of daffodil shoots were pushing through the grass by an oak on the edge of the playingfield.  Spring's on its way.